Parent raises concerns about reduced trades space at Pitt Meadows school

Dear Editor,

Why is SD42 reducing the physical space available for trades training, including woodwork, metalwork and automotive, in some schools? The redesign of Pitt Meadows Secondary (PMSS) has reduced the space available to students in trades classes.

The woodwork shop will be smaller, leaving less storage for wood. The metal shop will also shrink, and some equipment will be lost. The automotive shop will be much smaller, with only three bays. That works out to about eight students per bay, the parent writes, meaning only a small number can get hands-on experience while the others have to watch. The parent asks whether the reduced space could increase risks for students around machinery.

The space reduction may look “neat” on paper, the letter says, but it also has financial implications. The wood shop will need more frequent wood deliveries, each of which costs money. With less storage for used oil, the auto shop will need to arrange more frequent collections; there is also little or no storage for used tires. Collecting used oil and used tires, and handling old automotive parts, all cost money.

The letter was signed by Paddy Kopieczek of Maple Ridge.